Angkor

Overview

Introduction

Located 150 mi/240 km northwest of Phnom Penh, the ancient city of Angkor, Cambodia, is much larger than most visitors realize.

Angkor Archaeological Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999. The word Angkor translates to "City of the King," and the park is home to world-famous Angkor Wat, the many stone faces of Bayon Temple and Angkor Thom, among the many other former capitals of the Khmer Empire, dating as far back as the ninth century.

There are more than 30 temples and ancient buildings in the Angkor area, including the most famous, Angkor Wat. The entire area is sometimes referred to by this name, though Angkor Wat correctly refers only to the one principal temple.

At high season, Angkor is bustling with visitors moving through the temple grounds and corridors. To avoid the crowds, it is best to visit in the low-season months of May-September, although even then, don't expect the area to be quiet. It seems that Chinese tourists have discovered this magical land and now keep the area busy year-round.

Siem Reap is the town where travelers stay when visiting Angkor, just 5 mi/8 km away and 145 mi/235 km northwest of Phnom Penh. It is rapidly building a tourism infrastructure to cater to the demands of Western travelers.

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